How Identity Has Influenced A Software Engineer And Tech Lead At Google's Career
Jay's experience as a first-generation immigrant from a poor family in Estonia, the first in their family to receive higher education, instilled a "hunger for more" and a willingness to work hard to achieve goals. This drive, fueled by the contrast between their current situation and their aspirations, has been a significant factor in their career success at Google.
Overcoming Challenges, Motivation, Resilience, First-Generation Immigrant, Career Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jay Zelenkov
Software Engineer; Tech Lead
Munich University of Applied Sciences, 2012
N/A
Computer Science
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
International Student, Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Jay's first-generation immigrant background fueled his ambition and work ethic, giving him a strong drive to succeed and achieve more than what he's been exposed to.
2. His experience highlights the potential advantages of overcoming challenges early in life, fostering resilience and determination in a career.
3. Jay's journey emphasizes the importance of hunger and willingness to work hard for success, especially in competitive fields like software engineering.
Transcript
And someone who identifies as a first-generation immigrant. How has that impacted how you navigate your career?
That's a really good question, and I've been reflecting on it a lot. The way I think about it is being a first-generation immigrant in Germany and also in the US.
I come from a very poor family in Estonia. I'm the first person in my family to receive college education. All these things set up one aspect. There are pros and cons to each situation; we're all born in different places.
One thing that helped me in that situation was the realization that I have to work harder. Being born into that situation made me feel more hunger than maybe others. I feel like I'm hungry for more and I'm willing to work a little harder for that.
I'm not sure if that applies universally, but it feels like it gives me extra drive, extra desire. Because I know there's so much more out there that I haven't been exposed to. I can see it's within my reach, but I don't have it yet. That helps me stay focused, stay sharp, and execute.